STRIKE POINT SPORTS
4-Unit Play. #779 Take Southern Illinois (+1.5)
over UTEP (3:30 p.m., Friday, November 27)
It may just a few points, but the wrong team is favored. SIU has been a sleeper team of ours to keep watch this year. A quick start for them, and I think it continues over the Miners. I am a big fan of Anthony Beane and what he can do. We’ll ride him and his Salukis teammates to another ‘W’. UTEP lost so much talent, three double digit scorers, from a team that only managed the NIT last season. This is a transition year for Tim Floyd’s bunch while SIU is on the come up.
4-Unit Play. #744 Take Notre Dame (+2.5)
over Iowa (7 p.m., Friday, November 27)
This line should be shaded in favor of the Irish. Yes, Notre Dame lost to Monmouth, but the mid-major has shown to be a legit threat, already beating UCLA and giving USC tough game in LA as well. Iowa definitely is not as talented as the Irish, and coming off the upset I expect ND to be on their game. Notre Dame doesn’t lean on its star man from last year Jerian Grant, however this season they have a more balanced attack that is still a tough guard. I think oddsmakers got the line wrong.
3-Unit Play. #731 Take Memphis (+1)
over Ohio State (7:30 p.m., Friday, November 27)
This one is simply principle that OSU should not be favored at the moment. The Buckeyes have lost two straight, and whie Memphis also lost to UTA, Ohio State is wrongly favored here. Also, Memphis can at least boast playmakers like Shaq Goodwin and Alabama transfer Ricky Tarrant. Both are enough to trouble Ohio State. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucks were already looking ahead to next week’s home game against ranked Virginia in the Big 10/ACC Challenge.
3-Unit Play. #782 Take Colorado State (-5.5)
over Portland (8:30 p.m., Friday, November 27)
Colorado State is 4-0 although they don’t resemble the NCAA Tournament team from 2014. That being the case, I am still giving the Rams the benefit of the doubt in the early portion of the season. Against the likes of Portland, CSU can continue their unbeaten start. The Pilots lost by 18 already to Colorado, and I see another double digit loss from another state-of-Colorado opponent.
3-Unit Play. #745 Take Monmouth (+8)
over Dayton (9:30 p.m., Friday, November 27)
Sure this seems like a square play, but Monmouth continues to show up. They upset UCLA to begin the year as well as give a really good USC a run for their money in LA. And with a win yesterday over Notre Dame, you can’t doubt this team is good. They show up and perform. They can certainly hang with Dayton. Monmouth didn’t grind out a win over the Irish to lay an egg against a Flyers team who isn’t more talented than ND. Give me the points in a close one.
3-Unit Play. #789 Take Tennessee (+5.5)
over George Washington (9 p.m., Friday, November 27)
You have to give the Vols some credit. In the second year under head coach Rick Barnes, UT has jumped out to a fast start and built quality confidence in the process. That will do them a world of good in Brooklyn aginst GW. I see not only a cover but an outright win for the SEC team tonight. It’s still early but Tennessee is scoring 83 per game, and that scoring production will come through for an outright win over George Washington in NYC.
4-Unit Play. #794 Take West Virginia (-2.5)
over San Diego State (10:30 p.m., Friday, November 27)
I’m holding firm in the fact that I think San Diego State isn’t that good. We missed with Cal last night as the Aztecs upset the Bears, however I am willing to double down tonight with the Mountaineers. Basically, I don’t think the Aztecs are good enough, or consistent enough, to pull off two straight unexpected wins. Bob Huggins has most of the pieces from his ’14 Sweet 16 team. The Aztecs played well to handle Cal, but I don’t see it happening again here.
O-3 yesterday.